
REMINISCENCES OF A FIFTY-YEARS PASTORATE. 



IIALF-CENTURY DISCOURSE, 



DEllVfRED IN 



NORTH -HAMPTON, N. H 



NOVEMBER 18, 1851. 



BY JONATHAN FRENCH, D. D. 



/ I* AS I OK OK THE CONORKGATIONAI^ CUDRCH 



PORTSxMOUTH : • 

0. Vr. BREWSTER & SON, — PRTNTEHS. 

1852. 



REJIINISCENCES OF A FIFTY-YEAKS I'ASTOEATE. 



HALF-CENTURY DISCOURSE, 



DELIVERED IN 



NOllTH-HAMPTON, N. H. 



NOVEMBER 18, 1851, 



BY JONATHAN FRENCH, D. D. 



PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



*>;>•<;.) 



±^ 1- . 



PORTSMOUTH: 

C. W. BREWSTER & SON,— -PRINTERS: 

1852. 



Deal &V,— The people of North-H^mpto-n, through their Committee, 
thank you for your Half-Century discourse delivered on the 18th instant, and 
request a copy for the press. 

With much respect, 

JOHN L. HOBBS, 

Chairman of Com, of jlrrangementa. 
To Kev. Jonathan French, D. D. 

North-Hampton, Nov. 20, 1851. 



Dear Sir, — In compliance with the request of the people of North- 
Hampton, I will furnish a copy for the press. 

Yours with great respect, 

JONATHAN FRENCH, 
Mr. John L. Hobbs. 









DISCOURSE 



GENESIS XLViii: 21. 
*' Bkiiold I die; but God shall be with you." 

These are the words of Israel to his son Joseph. Though 
spoken to an individual they had reference also to a commu- 
nity. That community was a portion of the Jewish church. 

Israel had felt, and continued to feel, a great interest in its 
welfare. He knew that he had himself become old, and was 
drawing near the close of his mortal life. In the affairs of 
the past and of ihe passing generations of the children of 
Abraham, he had been intimately conversant. He rejoiced 
in the prospects of good to those who were to succeed him. 
He seems to have anticipated his approaching death not only 
with calmness but comfort ; as well he might ; for they who 
say such things as he said, shew plainly that " they desire 
a better country, even a heavenly." 

In his last interview with Joseph and his children he could 
say concerning himself, with unhesitating submission, and in 
the hope of immortal life in the world to come, " Behold I 
die I" He could also, in the spirit of unwavering faith, say 
concerning them : " But God shall be with you." It was his 
" heart's desire and prayer," and his belief that God, before 
whom his fathers, Abraham and Isaac did walk ; the God 
who fed him all his life long unto that day ; the angel, who 
redeemed him from all evil, would be with them and bless 
them." 



Such were Israel's views in aiilicipalion of most important 
events which awaited himself and ihem. Such were the 
feelin2;s and faith whiel] found utterance in the words of the 



text. 



In adopting these words, on this occasion, I must not only 
say, "Behold I die!" — but having passed the line of three- 
score-and-ten by more than three years, I have reason to say, 
in the words once used by David to his friend, — " Truly, as 
the Lord liveth, and as thy soul livelh, there is but a step 
between me and death." 

Though no pastor is authorized to say to his people with 
unconditional or prophetic certainty, " God shall be with 
you ;" yet he can say, with assurance, for God is faithful to 
his promises, " The Lord is with you while ye be with Him. 
If ye seek Him, He will be found of you." But the serious 
caution must be added, — " If you forsake Him, He will for- 
sake you." 

The half-century discourse of a pastor must of necessity 
be somewhat autobiographical. However disagreeable to 
himself a frequent use of the first person luay be, great pains 
to avoid it would not only cramp his pen, but would appear 
to his hearers like affectation rather than modesty. In the 
present instance it will not be attempted. 

That some incidents in an aged pastor's life and in the his- 
tory of his church and people should be given, though less 
interesting to others than to themselves, seems requisite as a 
reasonable acknowledgment of the providence and grace of 
God, and as calculated to keep in the pastor's mind the im- 
portance of a watchful preparation to give up within a short 
time the accumulated accounts of a long ministry. Such 
recollections may be to him a timely admonition to beware 
lest having preached to others he should be himself a cast- 
away. 

Brief sketches also of the history of a people and of their 



origin may lead thom to more earnestncps in prayer, and urge 
ihem to use with energy as well as with discretion the reciiii- 
site means for securing to themselves and their posterity the 
blessings of God's providential and gracious presence. 

Though I cannot claim to be a Hebrew of the Hebrews, or 
of the stock of Israel, — gratitude for the goodness of God and 
a sense of special obligation resulting from it, constrain me 
to mention that I am of the slock of the Puritans, and a de- 
scendant in the sixth generation from one of the Pilgrims of 
Leyden, who came in the May-Flower to Plymouth, New- 
England, in 1620, who was one of the signers of the civil 
compact made before the location for the first settlement 
had been selected, then a young man of 22. It is regis- 
tered of him, that he not only was employed in public offices 
for many years, but was distinguished for his holy life 
and conversation, and that his death, at the age of about 89, 
was not only peaceful but triumphant.* 

In one of the branches from that stock both iTiy parents 
originated. These family memoranda, with details too par- 
ticular to introdace here, have often in successive generations, 
been cited by parente in conversations with their children, 
not to excite foolish pride, but as motives to early and con- 
stant piety and to a uniformly consistent manner of life. 

The responsiblcness of all who are, or have been, or ever 
shall be indulged with the privileges of a New-England re- 
ligious education, must be incalculably great. Such persons 
must be under peculiar obligations to give themselves to the 
Lord a living and acceptable sacrifice. 

I pass over the details of a long and distressing confine- 
ment in consequence of a deep scald, when in my fourth year, 
and of the impressions which it occasioned, only saying that 
I fully expected to recover, and that the purpose was then 
formed of becoming a preacher of the Gospel, and that this 

*.)olju Allen. See Appendix A. 



6 

intention was never afterward relinquished. The recollec- 
tions of my early years, however, furnish many sad illustra- 
tions of the fact that "childhood and youth are vanity." 

It was not until the age of sixteen that I ventured to make 
a profession. Being then in my first year at College, and 
there being at that time very few youthful professors in our 
coiTimunity, many fears were entertained lest temptation to 
inconsistency, if not to apostacy, should prove too strong to 
be resisted. I do not, however, recollect a sneer, or a word 
of ridicule from any fellow student. On the other hand, a 
profession of religion did induce carefulness, lest some errat- 
ic behavior should be an occasion of reproach. 

There are sometimes circumstances in a person's history 
apparently unimportant when they occur, which give a new 
direction to his path of life, turn him at a short corner, carry 
him across the track he had marked out for himself, and lead 
him in a way which he knew not. Whoever else may cavil 
at the doctrine of a particular providence, I cannot ; — having 
witnessed and experienced many things which I cannot 
doubt resulted from the determinate counsel and foreknow- 
ledge of God, not however excluding human voluntar}'^ 
agency. Two such incidents I have cause to record here. 
One of them prevented my settlement with a church from 
which I had received a unanimous invitation. It was the 
selection of a text on which a minister preached, with whom 
I exchanged, and who, I have no doubt, sincerely desired 
my acceptance of the call. That circumstance, without any 
such design by the minister, led to surmisings which caused 
delay. In the meantime having received invitations to 
preach in other places, I discouraged any further measures 
in regard to a settlement with that church. The other inci- 
dent was an unexpected interview between the committee of 
this town and myself, in which I received an invitation to 
this place, at the moment I was mounting my carriage to go 



in a different direction. The difference of a minute or two 
in our movements might have prevented my being here. 

I came to this town, July 19, 1801 ; and the next day, be- 
ing the Sabbath, commenced my ministry among this people. 

North Hampton was for many years a part of Hampton. 
Of the religious character of its settlers we cannot obtain a 
more correct view than is given in a historical address deliv- 
ered at Hampton in 1838, in commemoration of its settle- 
ment. " Our fathers came hither for the enjoyment of relig- 
ious freedom. One of their first movements was to secure a 
minister, who should be to them a spiritual guide. They 
came hither united in church covenant, and at the very com- 
mencement of their settlement, they were supplied with a 
pastor."* 

We find here reasons for the remarkable permanency of 
the ministry and its attendant institutions in Hampton and 
the towns formed from it ; especially in those societies where 
the principles of their Puritan fathers have been honored and 
cherished. The declaration of the Lord Jesus to his first 
ministers remains forever true in its fullest import. " He 
that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me re- 
ceiveth him that sent me.'' This, every people and every 
individual should distinctly understand and apply. 

From authentic papers recently examined we have learned 
some interesting facts concerning the formation and affairs of 
the North-Hill parish, now North-Hampton. [See App'x C] 

On the petition of sundry persons to the General Court it 
was ordered in Council that there should be a parish in the 
north part of Hampton. A committee was appointed, by 
whom the boundaries of the proposed parish were run out, 
and were reported to the Court, Oct. 29, 1719. " The House 
of Representatives did not act in the granting of the aforesaid 
parish." 

♦Dow'6 Historical Address, p. 28. See also Appendix B. 



In 1734 there was another petition for the establishment of 
the parish as laid out in 1719, with the exception of what had 
in the meantime been set off to Rye. On another petition, a 
iew years afterward, a distinct parish, authorized to act in 
affairs concerning the ministry and school was established by 
the General Court, Nov. 17, 1738.' It is variously named in 
ihe records of the town, — " The North-Hill Parish in Hamp- 
ton," — " The North Parish in Hampton," &c. It was incor- 
porated as a town by the name of Norlh-Hampton, Nov. 26, 
1742. 

From the papers before mentioned we learn that the first 
meeting-house in what is now Norlh-Hampton, was erected 
in 1734, or earlier. We had supposed it was built about the 
year 1738. We cannot now ascertain the exact date. It 
stood about fourteen rods south-westerly from the house 
where we now worship.* Its size was 30 by 40 feet. It 
was occupied at least 27 years, and probably a longer time. 
The inside of the house was never finished. There were no 
regular seats for the congregation. It had been agreed that 
one range of pews should be laid out adjoining the walls of 
the house to be valued at from £15 to £10 " according to the 
dignity of the pews." Only a parsonage pew was built. 
The pulpit was of plain style but is judged to be of good 
workmanship, and was so much venerated that it was re- 
moved from its ancient location in the first house and became 
the pulpit of the second house, which was built in 1761. In 
that pulpit all the ministers settled by this town were conse- 
crated. There they all preached. The present pastor occu- 
pied it during the first thirty-seven years of his ministry and 
for the last time on the Sabbath, Oct. 28, 1838. The front 
section of the old pulpit, which was many years the preach- 
er's desk, is carefully preserved.! The second house stood a 

*A few rods from the first meeting-house was a garrison house. See Appendix D. 
tSec Appendix E. 



few feel north of the first house, and was used about seventy- 
seven years. 

The frame of the house in which we now worship, was 
raised June 21. 22, 1838. The building was completed in 
about four months. The house was dedicated October 31. 
The whole enterprise was conducted with great harmony and 
success. 

To understand correctly our own history we must refer to 
that of the old church at Hampton, whence we originated. 
That church had already been organized when the settlement 
of the town commenced, in 1638. For many years it was 
the only church in the town. As the settlements extended 
and the population increased, other churches were formed. 
" After the lapse of a century those members of the church 
residing in the north part of the town, then called North-Hill, 
requested a dismission for the purpose of being organized 
into a new church. Their request was not granted," " It is 
however probable, that the church and town considered the 
formation of a new church at that time unnecessary."* A 
council was called, that, after due deliberation, proceeded to 
organize it,"f as " The fourth church of Christ in Hamp- 
ton."$ 

Rev. Nathaniel Gookin, son of the late pastor of the first 
church, was ordained October 31. 1739. The father had de- 
ceased. He died Aug. 25, 1734, aged 48, having been in the 
ministry in Hampton 24 years. 

The author of the historical account of that town, to which 
reference has already been made, after mentioning Mr. Gook- 
in's decease and excellent character, observes, " I shall do 
injustice to this people, if I neglect to mention their generous 
provision for the maintenance of Mr. Gookin's widow. 
Soon after his death, the town agreed to give her £80 a year ; 

♦March 21. 1742, seTcral members of the IlamptOQ Church were '• dismissed to North HUl," 
which proves that the oM church then acquiesced in the organization of the churcli at North- 
Uill. [Uampton Ch. Rcc] [N. II. CIi. I{«c.] 

t DoiT. |). .37. t Letter mis.'iTC to GrecnLiiid cliurch. 



10 

lo furnish her with the keeping of three cows and a horse, 
Summer and Winter, and to give her fifteen cords of wood 
per annum. They also built for her use a house and barn. 
All this they performed as a memento of their love to Mr. 
Gookin, and their high regard to the worth of his widow. 
Mrs. Gookin was a daughter of the Rev. John Cotton, her 
husband's immediate predecessor in the pastoral office."* 

Here is one of the noblest illustrations to be found, of re- 
spect and affection for the ministry, and of gratitude to the 
family of a faithful pastor. And here we find another reason 
why God has given so much permanency to the parent 
Hampton church and to those of her children who have imi- 
tated her example and have cherished the ministerial spirit. 

When in 1738 the inhabitants of the north part of Hamp- 
ton were authorized by the government, on petition, to sup- 
port the worship of God among themselves, they were dis- 
charged from the ministerial and school taxes of the old town 
of Hampton so long as they should support and maintain an 
orthodox minister and a writing and reading schoolmaster 
among themselves. But they were to pay their proportion 
of the grant made to the widow Dorothy Gookin, by the town 
of Hampton, and all other town and province taxes, minister 
and school excepted. 

The Society in the north part of Hampton called their first 
meeting Dec. 21, 1738, at the North-Hill Meeting-House. 
They soon after called a Fast, as was the usage in those 
days, invited five ministers to attend it, and asked their advice 
in regard to settling a minister. Agreeably to the advice they 
received, Mr. Gookin was employed several months as a 
candidate, and was then invited to settle. A generous salary 
was voted to him, including sufficient fire-wood annually, 
the use of a convenient house and barn, and a title to the sal- 
ary, even though he should be taken'from the public services 

*Dow's Historical Address, p. 37. 



11 

of the Sabbath by sickness. The call was accepted and the 
ordination took place at the time which has been already 
mentioned. 

On such liberality and promptness the North-Hill Society, 
then consisting of only thirty freeholders, laid the foundation 
for the permanency of religious institutions here. With truly 
Puritan principles they acted for their posterity as well as for 
themselves. Many of their descendants have inherited and 
still inherit the blessings thus secured, and they will inherit 
them so long as they shall continue to cherish, as they now 
do. the honest and liberal views of their fathers. Here is a 
principle, on which I feel warranted to apply the text, — " Be- 
hold I die, but God shall be with you." 

I learned many years ago, from an aged and intelligent 
man, that the property of the North-Hill parish, now North- 
Hampton, was about a fifth part of the property of the whole 
town of Hampton, as he inferred from the fact that the North- 
Hill parish paid that proportion of the grant to Madam 
Gookin. 

The salary of Mr. Gookin of this place, which was liberal 
for the times and circumstances of this people, sunk rapidly 
in value when the depreciation of the currency came down 
like an avalanche upon New England. This people, not- 
withstanding their own sufferings from this general calamity, 
did not shrink from their responsibility to their minister. 
Their first vote for his relief gave him an addition of d£90 Old 
Tenor " to help make good the currency." The next year 
£110. In a subsequent year £200. The next year voted 
" Mr. Gookin's salary to go four times double." For the in- 
formation of young people it may be well to state that in 
those days a silver dollar was 45 shillings in Old Tenor, and 
6 shillings lawful money. In other terms, two shillings and 
sixpence Old Tenor was four pence lawful money. 

It was well that this people took thought for their pastor, 



12 

for it is said that he was never distrustful, never complained, 
was always contented and cheerful, and " never took thought 
for the morrow." He died Oct. 22, 1766, aged 53 years, hav- 
ing sustained the character of " a sound divine, a serious, 
plain preacher, a wise counsellor, and a much beloved pastor 
of his ilock."* One of his sons, Hon. Daniel Gookin, and 
his family, passed some of the most important periods of life 
in this place, sustaining the ministry and the church, and ex- 
erting a beneficial influence in this community. The statis- 
tical records of Mr. Gookin's ministry are missing. 

Rev. Joseph Stacey Hastings, the second minister of this 
town, was ordained Feb. 11, 1767. During his ministry, 
which continued between seven and eight years, 55 were ad- 
ded to the church. Mr. Hastings was beloved by his people, 
and esteemed ardently pious, but adopted the opinions of 
Robert Sandeman, the leader of a small sect, who held some 
unusual notions. Mr. Hastings briefly declared his resigna- 
tion of his ministry. The notice, though informal, was 
treated with respect and kindness, and his dismission voted 
in 1774. That there was a tincture of eccentricity in the 
mind of that good man is apparent from some singular en- 
tries in his church records. On one occasion his record 
stated that there had been a difficulty between two members 
of the church. They had appeared before the church, asked 
forgiveness of each other and of the church, and were forgiven. 
All present were cautioned against ever reviving the unhappy 
affair and advised to "endeavor that the whole matter 
should be buried in perpetual oblivion." He then adds : 
" Nota Bene. The affair was this !" and immediately pro- 
ceeded to record the particulars of the dispute. 

In dismissing Mr. Hastings, at his own request, the parish 
honorably settled their accounts with him, and kindly voted 
him the use of the parsonage house till the parish should 
again want it. 

*Alden'g Epitaphs. 



13 

Rev. David McClure, D. D. the third pastor of this church 
was installed Nov. 13, 1776. Soon after, an astounding de- 
preciation of money again befel the country. Continental 
bills of credit constituted the paper currency, ^Yhich depreci- 
ated so rapidly that soon 150 nominal paper dollars were 
hardly an equivalent for one silver dollar. The depreciation 
continued in proportion to the sums issued, and the issues 
were so great that the sum in circulation amounted to two 
hundred millions of dollars, and the value of the paper bills 
sunk almost to nothing. This people did not wish their pas- 
tor to suffer such a pressure unrelieved. In 1778 they voted 
him 500 dollars in addition to his salary. The next year 
they agreed to give him a thousand, in addition to his salary ; 
and in December of the same year, that he might be sure of 
something more substantial than paper, they voted to give him 
a hundred bushels of corn. The next year his salary was 
increased 40 for one, and amounted to 12000 dollars. 

Dr. McClure's ministry was during the American revolu- 
tion, and continued till the peace. But the circumstances of 
the churches and of the country were perplexing and dis- 
heartening. Dr. McClure considered the support of the min- 
istry and other religious institutions as having become very 
precarious, and requested a dismission, stating at the same 
lime that he had no charge or accusation to make against this 
people, and that they had lived together in love and harmony. 
His resignation was accepted ; some privileges in the parson- 
age were voted to him, and his ministry with this people 
closed August 30, 1785. He had continued with them be- 
tween nine and ten years, and had received 22 persons to the 
church. 

Rev, Benjamin Thurston was ordained November 2, 1785. 
His ministry continued about 15 years; in which time 53 
were received to the church. He was the fourth pastor of 
this church. In 1800 he tendered his resignation without 



14 

assigning any definite reasons. His resignation was treated 
respectfully and accepted, Oct. 27, 1800. 

This people have never as a body sought to rid themselves 
of a minister. They have never been disposed to wound his 
feelings, nor to withhold from him what they have supposed 
a comfortable support. I wish to testify on this occasion that 
during the whole fifty years of my ministry they have regu- 
larly and punctually paid my salary, according to the stipu- 
lated amount for the time being, as understood between them 
and me. I have received many tokens of kindness from in- 
dividuals. It is true, that in some instances the pecuniary 
straits which the pastor experienced were not made known. 
Who could complain to such a people ? 

After all these favorable things have been related, would 
you expect to hear from the present pastor that when he came 
among them in 1801 he found them in a state of feeling to- 
ward one another, which, instead of presenting to a youthful 
pastor the prospect of a peaceful and happy ministry, even 
threatened to break up the very foundations of peaceful 
society ? 

But it pleased God to give me personal favor with this 
people notwithstanding the conflicting interests and party 
feuds which existed among themselves. It had become 
strictly true throughout this nation — as was said by one of our 
own historians — that " party spirit, never long asleep in any 
nation, and least of all in a republic, had already risen high 
in America, and the whole body of the people from the first 
statesman in the cabinet, down to the merest village alehouse 
politician, were ranged under the banners of one or the other 
contending parties." 

The few surviving fathers of this people, who were acting 
members of society here, fifty years ago, recollect the turmoils 
of those days. Our middle-aged and even our young men 
have known times when differing parties have very strenu- 



15 

ously opposed each other. But those were only fresli gales, 
compared with the earlier storms. What rendered the state 
of things peculiarly calamitous here, was, that in some cases* 
families were divided ; brother against brother ; entirely 
apart; and influenced by directly opposite political interests. 
Often the religious and local affairs of the people were blend- 
ed with their political excitements. 

But the half was not told me till after I had received an 
invitation to become their pastor; had taken the advice of the 
ministers in all the neighboring towns, as was then customary, 
had prepared an affirmative answer, and the Saturday even- 
ing had arrived, previous to the Sabbath on which the answer 
was expected. Those who were earnest for my settlement 
had been careful not to alarm my fears. Those who opposed 
the settlement declared that they were not dissatisfied with the 
preacher, but with the proceedings of the majority. 

It was a late hour on Saturday; an arrangement had been 
made for an exchange with Dr. Buckminster, who was to 
communicate the answer. It was seen at once that returning: 
the question to the town, or giving a negative, or proposing 
delay, would throw this community into a state of turbulent 
commotion. There appeared to be but one safe and consist- 
ent way, and that was to let the answer go in, as it had been 
prepared, with the understanding that the whole subject 
would be calmly submitted to the consideration and deci- 
sion of a large and judicious council. Such was the con- 
clusion. The council convened on the 18lh of November, 
1801. An opportunity was given, by public notice to the par- 
ties, to make their several statements to the council, as fully as 
they might desire. This having taken place, the council, 
after mature and prayerful deliberation, voted unanimously 
that the objections and opposition, that appeared against the 
settlement, were not sufficient to prevent tiie council proceed- 
ing to ordination.* The ordination accordingly took place. 

'Dr. RnokniinPtpr"s minutes of tlip rotinril. 



16 

In that solemn consecration the pastor hoped he gave himself 
to the service of Christ among this people, feeling willing to 
live and die with them, should the Lord so will, although 
there seemed cause to fear what some confidently predicted, 
that the relation must be speedily dissolved. 

What seemed most alarming to the youthful pastor was 
the apparent absence of the special influences of the Holy 
Spirit. There is scarcely anything which renders the receji- 
tion of saving blessings less hopeful, than a spirit of discord, 
unless it is the spirit of indifference. 

It has long been the custom in this town, at each annual 
town meeting, as soon as it is organized, to request the min- 
ister to open the meeting with prayer. It was, I think, on 
the first occasion of that sort after I was ordained, that as I 
entered the place of meeting to perform the requested service, 
a company of men rushed by me from the house, toward 
another place of resort, one of them uttering the exclamation : 
"I hope you will be short." This and other unpleasant demon- 
strations, I did not construe as expressions of enmity toward 
me personally, but as a method adopted by some disafl'ecled 
persons, to express their minds, and show their political pre- 
judices and preferences. Some other measures of a similar 
character were occasionally taken. The Annual State Fast 
occurred a few weeks after the town meeting. On Fast day 
I found in the pulpit, an anonymous letter directed to me in 
a legible but I thought disguised hand. It professed to dis- 
close threatenings against me, overheard by the writer when 
on a journey through this town. The communication pur- 
ported to be a friendly warning giving me opportunity to 
avoid exposure to intended violence. The denunciations 
were too outrageous to be credited, and failed to excite alarm. 
I had occasion soon after, to return in the evening from a pas- 
toral excursion, by a solitary way, but |)erceived nothing un- 
usual. This incident is menlioned to show the unpleasant 



17 

feelings that then existed. Some, no doubt supposed it 
might be a public benefit, and certainly a private one, to be 
relieved of the encumbrance of a settled minister. 

The laws of the State, at that time, admitted of enforcing 
the payment of ministerial taxes, where the persons taxed had 
not obtained actual legal exemption. A plan was formed by 
some of the disaflfected, to have the taxes of dissentients col- 
lected by distraint. It was foreseen that such a measure, if 
carried out, would enkindle a fire, before which neither the 
minister nor the congregation could stand. The amount of 
the taxes in question was about seventy dollars. 

There was in this town at that time, a man* of some sin- 
gularity, who used to say he could not go forward in public 
affairs, but could lift at the wheel, and would be a gap man 
when necessary, to support the ministry. This declaration he 
uniformly made good, whether ho accorded in sentiment with 
his minister or not. 

When he was informed of the threatened disturbance con- 
cerning taxes, he resolved to prevent it without delay. 

Having formed his plan, he composed, mentally, a letter to 
the town, for he very seldom used a pen. He called on a 
friend in a neighboring town and obtained his assistance as 
amanuensis. The letter having been written as he dictated 
it, he requested a fellow townsman, who was a good reader, 
to communicale it to the town at a meeting which was soon 
to be holden for other purposes. I afterward asked his leave 
to give that letter to the public. To this he did not consent, 
but allowed me to take a copy and read it to my friends.f 
The moral is good. Lot mc read it to my friends hero. 

That the letter may be understood it must be observed that 
his property was not large, although he had a comfortable farm, 
and was a tanner on a comparatively small scale, and that 

*Beiijiimin Ilobbs. 

fRea-sons iigainst the publication of the letter at thiit time do not now exist; while the im- 
portance of the subject, the correctness of the argument, and the originality of the couimunio:i- 
tioQ justify its pre?<'rvatinn. without givin? name.-;. 



18 

his ministerial tax for several years averaged not more than 
four dollars annually. The body of the letter, without 
names, is as follows : 

" To THE LEGAL VOTERS IN . 

Gentlemen : — We all wish to discover what will be most for our advan- 
tage and how we may be most prosperous and happy. There is an impor- 
tant discovery, which is not to be kept secret, as it is designed for the good 
of every one who wishes to reap the advantages of it. He hath shewed 
thee, O man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but 
to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. 

"We do not walk humbly with our God unless we keep his command- 
ments And he has commanded us to support and obey that blessed gos- 
pel which his own dear son come down from heaven to reveal. We do not 
love mercy unless when we are able to do good we do it cheerfully, and 
are glad of an opportunity to do good to them that need our help. We 
do not deal justly unless we render to all their dues. 

To walk humbly we must love and prize the gospel, and to do justly wo 
must support the preaching of it. Christ has commanded his ministers to 
go and preach his gospel, and he has commanded us to maintain them. 
For the laborer is worthy of his hire. This is good in itself. It is good 
because God requires it. And it is good for us, not only as it relates to 
the future life and the great day of reckoning, but with regard to our 
wordly interest. 

Christ says to his ministers, Lo, I am with you alway. And if we are 
not with his ministers we are not with him, for he is on their side. And 
we cannot pi'osper either here or hereafter, if we are not on the same side 
with Christ. 

It is an old saying that a man will do anything for money. To give 
part of our earnings to support the gospel is the most certain way of getting 
money. I am persuaded it is more for the worldly interest of a tanner to 
pay four dollars to the support of the ministry than to tan an ox-hide to 
the halves.* And if it is so great a profit to the tanner to be taxed to the 
maintenance of a minister, it must be as much profit to men in all other oc- 
cupations. It would be a great happiness to me, and to you, my fellow 
townsmen, if we all thought it not a burthen, but as it really is a great 
privilege to give part of our substance to support them that preach the gos- 
pel. To pay our money in this way is for our own interest, the interest 

*Those who were acquainted with the author of the letter would not regard this as a witticism, 
hut simply as an illustration taken by a plain man from an item of labor which he knew was 
considered profit^ible. 



19 

of our families and the increase of our estates. It is an old saying that a 
man will not be the poorer for what he pays to his minister. But I be- 
lieve he will be richer; richer in satisfaction of mind, and richer in goods ; 
for what he pays will bring him a better interest than it would in any 
other way. 

I have reason to believe you do not all think as I do in this matter, and 
I am heartily sorry we do not agree in so important a point. I understand 
there are some among us who determine not to pay what they are taxed 
to the minister. It is my desire that the selectmen and the constable would 
use all the arguments and reasons they can to persuade those who have 
refused to pay, to come and join with us in supporting the gospel ; for I 
have no desire to take this privilege from them. But it is also my desire 
that if they do refuse, they may not be compelled. It is my desire that the 
constable may be directed to return the names of those who are unwilling 
to pay their minister tax to the selectmen, and the selectmen to deliver 
them to me, at least seven days before the annual meeting in March next* 
If their names and minister tax as it is now be deliv- 
ered to me by that time, I hereby engage, that I will myself willingly pay 
all the said taxes and see that they are crossed out of the collector's book. 
And I further engage that if any are willing, and yet unable to pay, I will 
pay theirs also, if the selectmen shall judge that they are not able. I wish 
it to be understood however, that I have no desire to deprive any one of 
paying to the support of the gospel, which I think a real privilege. 

Life is short. We shall all meet in the congregation of the dead. We 
shall meet once more after that. It is my desire, and I hope it is yours, 
that we may meet with joy." *********_ 

The whole sum before mentioned he paid freely, but did 
not have occasion to make a similar proposal again. 

At one of the seasons when our prospects appeared dark, 
he told me " not to be discouraged, he would be one of ten, 
or would, if it should be necessary, do more to support rae." 

T once found among some old books in ray father's library 
a small anonymous pamphlet printed in 1772, entitled " A 
Dialogue between David Dogood and Nabal Lovemoney, 
concerning the maintenance due unto the ministers of the 
gospel of Christ." Knowing that it accorded with his views 
of the subject, I obtained it and asked him to read it. Hav- 



20 

iiig read it, he said to me, " I must have this." He walked 
to Portsmouth and asked a printer for what he would furnish 
him with fifty copies. The printer answered, " for five dol- 
lars." He replied, " I should think you could give me a 
hundred for that. Nevertheless, I would not take five dollars 
for that one, if I could not get another." He obtained his 
hundred copies, and distributed them in this and other towns 
where he supposed they would be useful.* 

These are a few specimens of his liberality. And they are 
but specimens of an ever flowing stream of kindness; and 
yet he did not agree with me in some of my measures and 
doctrinal views. He did not approve of extra meetings, ex- 
tempore preaching, or other innovations ; and at times cau- 
tioned me against what he accounted being " righteous over- 
much." But he enjoined upon me as an invariable rule, not 
to do or omit doing anything because he said so. He " would 
not give anything for a man that could not say no." 

I could mention, were there time, many interesting and 
curious facts respecting the ministerial spirit of that smgular 
man. 

But the ministerial spirit itself was not confined to that sin- 
gular man. I could not assent to the remark, made in 
another town fifty years ago, that " all the religion North 
Hill people had was being good to their minister." But the 
ministerial spirit has been a characteristic of this people from 
the first. There has not arisen here any generation with the 
spirit of that Egyptian king " which knew not Joseph." The 
lastf of the male members who were in this church when I 
was ordained, told me in his old age, that when he married 
and was about to remove his bride, an only daughter, to her 
new home, her father^ addressed them both very seriously, 
and enjoined it upon them, as they would hope to prosper 
and enjoy the blessing of God, to be good to their minister, a 

*Sec Appendix, Note K. 

tMr. Simon Leavitt, who died August 22, 1842, aged 89 years. 

tCol. Abraham Drake, who died August 1, 1781, aged 66. Appendix E. 



21 

principle on which they acted, and which has been practically 
regarded by many of this people. 

But with all the good qualities of this community, there 
have been seasons of commotion, usually originating in po- 
litical struggles, which have threatened to destroy the old 
foundations of religious society here. Such a tempest arose 
nearly twenty years ago. The pastor of this church contin- 
ued, at that time, to be the minister of the town. On some 
occasion *of party strife an alarm was excited, and a rumour 
circulated, that many of the people would take legal measures 
to exempt themselves from any tax to the support of the min- 
istry, and that the few who might adhere would be responsi- 
ble for the whole salary. 

Learning the state of things, the pastor resolved that he 
would seek the preservation of the long continued institutions 
of the gospel among this people, at any personal and pecuni- 
ary sacrifice which might be necessary, and which he could 
endure ; and accordingly, unsolicited by any of his people, 
proposed to relinquish one-fourth of the cash part of his salary. 
Peculiar circumstances, which it is not necessary to detail, 
justified in his view, this measure. The experiment was 
made. He has not regretted it. No agitation like that which 
has been mentioned has since occurred. The way was open- 
ed, and an opportunity at length offered, for an amicable ad- 
justment of ministerial property between the town and our 
present society, which issued in transferring in a quiet and 
satisfactory manner, the parsonage and the pastor to the Con- 
gregationeil society and church, under circumstances promo- 
tive of the prosperity of the society and the harmony of the 
town. 

"When our relations were changed, as has been stated, so 
many new and large expenses necessarily arose in our com- 
munity, concerning the parsonage, a new meeting-house, and 
other things, that there seemed to bene room even to intimate 



22 

anything respecting the reduced salary. The pastor thought 
best to waive tliat matter, and to suggest rather the importance 
of preparation to meet the expenses which will be necessary 
in the settlement and support of a new minister. 

As a people, we always have been, and still are " little 
among the thousands of Judah." But the Lord of the whole 
land made this a station of some consequence, on account of 
its central position in relation to ten or twelve of our churches 
to whom and to whose ministers a pastor here might be use- 
ful ; and the more so from the ministerial feeling to which 
this people were born and brought up, never inclining them 
to speak of disliking this or that preacher, but disposing them 
to call the pastors in the whole circle around us "our min- 
isters.'' 

In these circumstances I could not think of abandoning the 
standard that had been erected here; and believing that we 
are acting under the authority of the great Captain of salva- 
tion, and having full confidence in our glorious leader I can 
now say to the company of christian soldiers that have rallied 
around this standard ; " Behold I die ; but God shall be with 
you." 

The embarrassment which the abatement of salary, before 
mentioned, occasioned to the pastor, was known at the time 
to a few only ; and has but recently been generally under- 
stood. It is ever safe to trust in God. He knows the cir- 
cumstancess of all. One of the names by which he de- 
clares his goodness is "Jehovah Jireh — The Lord will pro- 
vide." He has provided, and is still providing for us. We 
will gratefully acknowledge his good providence, while we 
sincerely thank our friends of this and other places, for the 
kindness with which they have contributed to our relief and 
comfort. 

As we have traced the history of this church and people 
since the commencement of the present century, we have no- 



23 



ticed several providential interpositions in our behalf. But 
we should not overlook afllietive dispensations by which, 
from time to time, we have been made to feel the necessity 
of casting our burden on the Lord. There have been limes 
of peculiar trial and discouragement when elderly people^ 
who in their early days had witnessed more unanimity in 
the worship of God, would say to their minister, " It seems 
as if everything is going to ruin. If you die, or give up and 
leave this place, the cause will sink ; there will never be 
another minister here." This was especially the melancholy 
sentiment more than twenty years ago, when a man of lead- 
ing influence, an officer in the town and in the church, de- 
ceased after a sudden and short sickness.* Many felt that 
it was a fatal stroke to this community, as if they had lost 
their head, and with him their hope of prosperity. The pas- 
tor was obliged to suppress and calm his own feelings and 
fears, that he might quiet those of his friends ; and said to 
them, you must not talk or think so discouragingly. It 
savors too much of unbelief. " Instead of the fathers shall 
be the children." And so it has proved. 

All the pastors of this church, of whom I am the fifth, were, 
as has been mentioned before, settled by the town. My own 
relation to the town as their minister, continued through the 
first thirty-five years of my pastorate ; and when legally dis- 
solved, the mutual regard of minister and people which had 
in many ways been cherished, was not dissolved. It is but 
a just tribute to the character of the people of this town to say 
that, in all their conflicting movements, I was treated gener- 
ally with respect and kindness by those who did not, as well 
as by those who did attend upon my public ministrations. 
I wish to say also, that while I have not sought to conceal 
either my religious or political sentiments, no disposition has 
appeared to debar me from the exercise of any opinion or act 

•Deacon Morris Hobb?, who died August 11, 1830, aged 54 years. 



24 

allowed ine, equally with others, by our constitutions and 
laws. 

Soon after I came to this place, my attention was attracted 
by some old volumes of a social library* which was founded 
here at an early period of this church. That library appears 
to have been one of the most efficient means of intellectual 
and practical godliness enjoyed by former generations of ihi.s 
people. 

The first books of a social library here, were Henry's 
Commentary on the Bible, five large folios ; Flavel's Works, 
two vols, folio; Willard's Body of Divinity,! in two hun- 
dred and fifty lectures on the Assembly's Shorter Catechism ; 
Watts's Works in six large quartos ; Doddridge's Family Ex- 
positor, six vols, quarto ; Neal's History of the Puritans, and 
History of New-England, five .octavos ; Universal History, 
eighteen or twenty octavos ; and several other standard works. 
These books it seems were read, and so much read that it 
became expedient, as the records show, to vote that " the 
principal books might be taken out by the proprietors in 
turn." 

There is a tendency in our world to deterioration. In the 
latter part of the last century many of our churches had sunk 
into a sad state of declension. The ebbing current had un- 
dermined or impaired some of the foundations of social and 
religious progress. 

One of our earliest measures for improvement was reorgan- 
izing the ancient library ; collecting such of its scattered and 
worn volumes as could be found, and replenishing it with new 
books. 

The ancient custom of catechising children had been sus- 
pended. The Assembly's Shorter Catechism went in a great 
measure out of use in families. Household religious instruc- 

*Comincnced as early as Jan. 1761. Rev. Mr. Gookin was then pastor of t'.iis church. 
IThis work, publisheil in 1720, was the first folio volume on divinity printed in this country. 
Allen's Biog. Dist. p. 600. 



25 

lion was greatly neglected. There were no Sabbath-schools 
or Bible classes to take the place of those means of religious 
knowledge ; and strange as it may appear, even the sacra- 
mental lecture had been discontinued because so few attend- 
ed it. There were no meetings for social prayer, and little 
or no conversation on subjects of experimental religion ; sel- 
dom a private lecture, or more than the forenoon and after- 
noon exercises on the Sabbath. 

Intemperance had increased and continued its progress till 
forty hogsheads of the "fiery New-England" were sold in a 
year in one store in this small town, then numbering but 
about six hundred and fifty inhabitants. Besides this, as our 
farmers marketed their products in the trading towns in the 
vicinity, in some cases a barrel, and in a few cases a hogs- 
head of ardent spirit was brought back and deposited in a 
farmer's cellar. A considerable number of persons also sup- 
plied themselves, in smaller quantities at a time, when they 
went to places of traffic. The prospects on account of this 
evil were appalling. I felt constrained to say to one of our 
traders of those days, calmly but plainly, — " Your business is 
counteracting the influence of mine. Serious thoughts 
instilled into the minds of our people on one Sabbath, appear, 
with a considerable class of our men, to be dissipated at the 
store or the tavern, before another Sabbath comes." 

The history of the temperance reform has become familiar. 
I need not relate the obstacles which first came in its way. 
They are many and great even now. 

I early endeavored, and with some success, to reinstate the 
catechism in its former place in the minds of children and in 
the favor of parents. The sacramental lecture was restored. 
Reading some religious book and singing was introduced as 
an intermission exercise in the meeting-house, to employ the 
minds of those who used to stay at noon. Afterward the 
pastor occupied part of the intermission in Bible exercises, 
4 



26 

which collected a considerable number of persons around him 
in the singers' gallery and adjacent pews of our former house. 
A Female Charitable Society was formed. The Sabbath- 
school was introduced, at an early period of its adoption in 
our New-England churches. But these new movements ex- 
cited alarm in the minds of some very respectable people, 
who were exemplary in their morals, and observant of the 
customary seasons of religious worship ; but extra religious 
meetings or measures they feared would tend to enthusiasm 
and irregularity. The Monthly Concert was introduced by 
making it at first a part of the exercises of the Female Chari- 
table Society, which had been already quietly formed. My 
singular friend, mentioned before, opposed, though not an- 
grily, frequent religious meetings. He feared that instituting 
the Monthly Concert of Prayer was overdoing, being 
righteous overmuch. He advised me against continuingthat 
meeting. His advice, in that case, of course I could not fol- 
low. 

He said to me one day, pointing into the parsonage field, 
" You have a fine piece of grain there." " Yes sir," I replied, 
" it seems to be doing well." " How do you think it would 
do," said he, " if you should sow it over and over every 
month ? Come, try it, I'll find you with seed." As I 
claimed to have authority for sowing the moral seed more 
frequently than the natural, and quoted the precept, " In the 
morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine 
hand ; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this 
or that, or whether they both shall be alike good" — he only 
answered, " I will be clear of the blood of you." 

No stated social prayer-meeting had for a long time been 
sustained. Such an exercise, designed as a weekly church 
prayer-meeting, was commenced with the smallest social 
number, to whom the presence of Christ is promised. It 
gradually increased, and with varying interest and exercises 



27 

has been sustained. Evening lectures at private houses 
were appointed and were well attended. Some mercy drops 
in hopeful conversions were bestowed from time to time. 

In the autumn of 1817 there were indications of a revival 
of religion among us. In about three months from the first 
development of special interest in ' the things which are not 
seen and are eternal,' there were seventeen persons add- 
ed to our communion. That awakening, in some of its 
most remarkable cases, could be distinctly traced, as we 
believed, to the blessing of God upon the public exercises 
and influences of the weekly prayer-meeting ; the m.onthly 
concert ; and to the account given by the pastor, in public 
and private, of the narratives of the state of religion, as re- 
ported at a meeting, then recent, of the General Association 
of New-Hampshire. 

There was a season of refreshing in 1821, and twelve per- 
sons, most of them heads of families, were gathered into the 
Church. The three intervening years we were not without 
some special tokens^ of mercy. During that time several 
persons trusted that they experienced renewing grace, and 
professed publicly their faith in Christ. 

But our young people took little interest in the subject of 
religion. Their minds were carried away with the gaieties 
and amusements often so attractive to the young. Pious 
parents saw with great anxiety, their children growing up 
around them in neglect of the great salvation. Some of 
those parents had in fresh remembrance, though several years 
had passed away, a young man, one of their cotemporaries, 
among whom there was not one in the place more energetic 
or more beloved, who unquestionably sacrificed his life a 
votary to the pleasures of the dancing floor and its attendant 
amusements. An affectionate sister did not hesitate to attrib- 
ute his premature death to the cause which has been men- 
tioned, and could not afterwards speak of such perversions 



28 

of lime and youthful vivacity without deep emotions of grief. 

About the beginning of 1823, our young people, although 
of as regular moral deportment as youth in general, appeared 
to be more than usually inclined to such parties of amuse- 
ment as have been mentioned, and were manifestly " lovers 
of pleasure more than lovers of God." The feelings of 
their pastor and of their christian parents and friends cannot 
be described. Much prayer was offered on their behalf. 
The faith of christians was tried, but at length their prayers 
were answered. A revival of considerable extent ensued. 
Among the results may be noticed, that in one direction for 
about two miles there was hardly a house in which the influ- 
ence of the Holy Spirit was not manifest. The attention, 
although more general among the youth than any other class 
was not confined to them. A number of heads of families, 
and some persons past middle age were among the subjects 
of hopeful conversion. 

The taste of a large proportion of our young people was 
changed. For " those noisy senseless balls," as a young man 
who knew their history appropriately termed them, were sub- 
stituted social meetings, which furnished intellectual pleasure 
and improvement ; and which strengthened and enlivened 
the most cheerful and refined feelings of the heart. We 
were confident that none of the lessons given to young peo- 
ple, in what are sometimes said to be schools of politeness, 
could have so much improved the manners and increased 
the enjoyment of our youth. 

In that revival more than sixty entertained the hope that 
they had experienced religion. Forty-five were received to 
communion. 

Several other seasons of refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord have been granted to us, though none, perhaps sur- 
passing in interest that which has just been mentioned. 

In connection with the erection of this house of worship 



29 

and subscquenlly 1o its completion, the Lord, to wiiom it 
was consecrated, poured upon us a blessing, which we hoped 
was significant of his favor toward the undertaking. We 
trusted it was an indication that the Lord in his grace as well 
as providence had built the house, and therefore that the 
labor of his people had not been in vain. 

The population of this town has varied during the last 
half century from 651 to 885. In the year when the number 
of inhabitants was greatest, the list was considerably increas- 
ed by persons connected with the construction of the railroad, 
who did not long remain among us. 

There are now in this town about a hundred and sixty- 
five families. Of these, as nearly as I can ascertain, seventy- 
five families are Congregationalists; sixty-seven families are 
of other denominations ; and I do not know that the remain- 
ing twenty-three families have a stated sabbath home in any 
place of public worship. 

Of persons of various ages who died in this town in the 
last fifty years, there were six hundred and forty-three. Of 
these were fifty-three between the ages of fifteen and twenty- 
five. Eighty-six persons between the ages of twenty-five 
and forty-five, the period when life is usually considered to 
be in its most vigorous state. Seventy-nine lived to between 
seventy and eighty. Sixty-three to between eighty and nine- 
ty. Twenty arrived to ninety ; and one to ninety-nine. 

Of the heads of families who were here fifty-years ago, 
only two couples have not been separated by death. 

There were nearly a hundred names on the list of living 
members of this church when I was ordained. No male 
who was then a member survives. One man who was a 
member of this church more than fifty years ago, having 
changed his residence, had also removed his church relation 
to another place. He still lives and again resides with us. 

A few female members, who were in the church when I 



30 

was ordained, yet live, but are not now able any more to 
visit God's earthly courts. They will have our prayers to- 
day that they may wait all the days of their appointed time 
till their change shall come ; that they may be sa^nctilied 
wholly, aiid made meet for the holy temple and worship of 
God on high. 

Two hundred and eighty-five members have been admit- 
ted to this Church since I became its pastor ; and, in that 
time, four hundred and fifty-six, pertaining to the households 
of the church, have been baptized. 

I was younger than any member of this Church when I 
was ordained its pastor, and I am now among the few old 
men who are able constantly to worship God in his temple. 

Twenty ministers of the Piscataqua Association were liv- 
ing when I requested admission. Only one of them still 
lives, Rev. Isaac Briggs, then of York, Maine, West Parish, 
now of Rochester, Mass. 

When I joined the Association I was its youngest mem- 
ber. One generation of ministers passcth away and another 
generation cometh, with almost imperceptible rapidity. The 
number who have become members of this Association dur- 
ing the fifty years past is exactly one hundred, nineteen of 
whom have deceased. Such facts admonish our young 
brethren in the ministry, as well as the aged, that there is 
but a step between them and death. Even the youngest, 
should he live to old age will find that period come over him 
before he is aware. When he begins to be addressed as a 
father in the ministry, or is called to services which he had 
considered as belonging to his seniors, he will be taken by 
surprise, and will hardly know what it means.* 

Changes in the Association and in the ministry generally 
have been frequent. In this respect the last fifty years have 
differed greqtly from many years that preceded. Many 

* See Appendix I. 



31 

changes have occasioned many councils. Notwithstanding 
our trials in this place, we have been favored in not having 
had occasion for any council here since that which ordained 
me; but the circumstances of other churches have brought 
to us a hundred and seventy-three "letters missive," to attend 
councils. A hundred and forty-four of those councils we 
have attended. 

It is incumbent on me, on this occasion, to acknowledge 
the great goodness of God in granting me so much health, 
in the long period of my ministry. Eight and a half Sab- 
baths only, since I became a preacher, have I been prevented 
by sickness from attending public worship. At those times 
our pulpit was supplied by the kindness of brethren from 
abroad. I have sometimes been quite sick early in the week, 
but have been so much relieved belore the ringing of the 
sabbath bell as to admit of my going to the house of God» 
and conducting the usual services. Having obtained help of 
God I continue to this day. With gratitude for the past, and 
reliance on the goodness and grace of God, may I be ena- 
bled to meet submissively, and cheerfully, remaining events 
in the arrangements of providence concerning me. 

The particulars of our history which have been noticed, 
demand the special consideration and improvement of this 
Church and people, and of their pastor. 

It becomes us to consider what God has done for us, the 
lessons his dispensations toward us impart, and the obliga- 
tions to repentance, faith, gratitude and obedience which 
abide upon us. 

Great duties devolve on the present generation in relation 
to their successors. Let it be remembered thai among the 
most valuable inheritances possessed by this people are the 
institutions of the gospel, and the regard for these institutions 
in which they were trained by the precepts and examples of 
their predecessors. May the fathers, in these limes, instil 



32 

these principles into the niinds of their children, that the gen- 
eration to come may know them, and declare them to their 
children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget 
the works of God, but keep his commandments." 

Amidst all the changes which take place in the churches 
and in the minislrvj and everywhere among men, God chang- 
es not; and every one of us shall give account of himself to 
God. Let not this solemn truth fail to influence our minds 
while we consider the past history and future prospects of 
this community. Such attention to the concerns of our own 
souls will tend to render our desires more earnest that God 
will own and bless tts, and dwell with os, and prepare us to 
dwell forever with him. 

Here may humble, fervent supplication be made continu- 
ally for the blessing of God. May the effectual influences 
of the Holy Spirit incline this people to acknowledge and 
serve the God of their fathers. May they 'with purpose of 
heart cleave unto the Lord.' In hope that it shall be so, may 
I not say again, "Behold I die ; but God shall be with you."' 
Amen. 



APPENDIX. 



ORDER OF THE SERVICES. 

The Semi-Centennial Celebration, on which occasion the preceding 
discourse was delivered, took place at North-Hampton, N. H., November 
18th, 1851. 

The people of North-Hampton, by their committee requested Rev. R. 
W. Clark of Portsmouth to officiate as chairman of the meeting. 

Rev. S. P. Fay of Hampton invoked the blessing of God upon the 
exercises. 

Rev. Mr. Clark read selections from the Bible, and also the accompa- 
nying extracts of letters from distinguished clergymen. 

Praver was offered by Rev. I. W. Putnam, of Middleborough, Mass. 

The following hymn, written for the occasion by Nathaniel Lord, Jr., 
Esq. of Ipswich, Mass. a college classmate of Rev. Dr. French, was sung : 

Being of beings, unbegun. 

Source, whence all other beings spring, 

All-present, Infinite, Unknown, — 
To thee our humble praise we bring. 

We bless that love which gave thy Son, 

To be our Savior, Teacher, Guide, 
Head of his church, that glorious One, 

Who for a world of sinners died. 

He sent his servants to proclaim 

Through all the world the way of peace, 

And offer pardon in his name. 

To guilty men, till time shall cease. 

His promise still secure will stand, 

His spirit will attend his word, 
Till every age and every land 

Shall find the knowledge of the Lord. 

Thy servant. Lord, who here has stood 

These many years, thy word to preach, 
Bless with all needed earthly good, 

And give him grace yet more to teach. 

By word and life still may he shine. 

To show thy gospel rich and free, 
Till, late, thy word of power divine 

Call him away to dwell with thee. 

The closing prayer and benediction were by Rev, A. Tobey, of Durham. 
5 



34 

EXTRACTS OP 

CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE OCCASION. 

From Rev. Dr. Pierce. 

BuooKLiNE, Mass. 24th June, 184 7. 
Rkv. Jonathan French : 

Rev. and Dear Sir : — You may remember that in your Junior year, at 
H. U.I was, a short time, particular Tutor of your class. Since that peri- 
od, I cannot be certain that I have seen you, though I often hear a good 
account of your standing and your activity in the christian ministry. I 
formerly received a letter from you, dated 14th August, 1814, inquiring 
about our provision for the widows and orphans of ministers in our State. 

My Jubilee, on 15th March last, was a blessed day. All denominations 
united in it, who appeared of "one heart and of one soul." In my view, 
it more nearly resembled the description which our most serious divines 
have given of the Millennium, that any occasion at v.'hich I have ever been 
present, or which I expect to witness, on this side the eternal world. 

You perceive, dear brothei-, that you are fast approaching the front 
ranks of your profession. May you live to 18th Nov. 1851, which will 
occur in a little more than four short years, and have as pleasant a Jubilee, 
as any of your predecessors. 

But alas ! AVhat monitions crowd upon us of human frailty. The great 
Dr. Chalmers, of Edinburgh, Scotland, was found dead in his bed, on 31st 
May last. He was born 17th March. 1780, three weeks to a day, before 
your classmate Channing. The good Lord prepare us for his second com- 
ing I May we be found with our lamps trimmed and burning ! 

So earnestly pravs your superannuated brother, 

JOHN PIERCE. 



F7'om Rev. Dr. Kendall. 

Plymouth, Mass. Nov. 5, 1851. 
Rev. Jonathan French : 

My Dear Sir: — Be assured, my brother, after so long an interval, I was 
rejoiced to hear from you by a line from your own hand. It brought to 
mind many interesting and pleasant reminiscences. One of the happiest 
periods of my life was spent in Andover when I was often in communica- 
tion with the amiable family of your venerated parents. 

Some of my earliest and deepest religious impressions were produced 
under the preaching of your revered father. His fine voice even now 
seems to vibrate upon my ear. I was a member of his church, and he was 
present and preached at my ordination on the \st of January, 1800, al- 
most 52 years ago. How great the change which we both have witnessed 
among our friends since that period ! 

I have a distinct recollection of your ordination, and of the sympathy I 
felt for you, and the interest I took in this commencement of your minis- 
terial life. I rejoice that you have been spared to see and religiously to 
notice its 50th anniversary. It must be an interesting occasion to you 
and to your parishioners who remain, and who remember the occasion. It 
would afford me great pleasure if circumstances would admit of it, to be 
present, and exchange greetings and congratulations on this memorable 
occasion. But my advanced age and the season of the year seem to ad- 
monish me that my safest course would be to remain at home. I confess, 
vi'iih. fourscore and two years upon my shoulders, I have a litde shrinking 
at the thought of leaving a quiet home— and taking the risk of a November 
storm — by a journey from Plymouth to North-Hampton, N. H. At a mild- 
er season of the year — notwithstanding my age — with my present comfor- 



35 

tabic bealth, I should have been stronrjly inclineLl to undert;ike the jour- 
ney — for the sake of the satisfaction and enjoyment I slioiild derive from 
so interesting; an occasion. As it is, I tliink I must ask you not to depend 
on my beinp; present or taking part in tlie service. 

But, be assured, my brother, my heart will be with you with its deepest 
sympathies, its warmest congratulations, and its sincere and earnest 
prayer. And all the more from the remembrance of how much I was in- 
terested and how much I enjoyed in the celebration of the 50th Anniver- 
sary of my own ordination two years ago the 1st Jan. 1852. Tins Jubilee 
was to me one of the most interesting events of my life. My friends also, 
both in town and out of town, seemed disposed to make it a religious festi- 
val. There was a large assembly in the church, and a social gathering in 
tlie evening— with a pleasant exchange of friendly greetings and congrat- 
ulations. But comparatively few were old enough to take a part in my 
ordination, or even to be present on that occasion. Most of that genera- 
tion had passed away, and another had taken its place. 

I have been highly favored as to my health, during the whole period of 
my ministry. I have not been entirely free from illness;— but never so 
sick as to be confined to my bed for a day— nor prevented from supplying 
my pulpit, by any indisposition, except three Sabbaths, during my minis- 
tr}'. I have cause for sincere thankfulness to the Great Preserver for the 
health, which 1 have enjoyed, and for the numerous blessings, with which 
my life has been crowned. I have only to regret that I have not been 
more deeply impressed with a sense of the blessings with which I have been 
favored, and more faithful in the service of my Lord and Master. But I 
trust, I shall find mercy in the Day of the Lord for my deficiences — and 
acceptance for every sincere and earnest endeavor to serve Him in truth 
and in love. 

With kind regards to your family, 

I am your very sincere friend and brother, 

JAS. KENDALL. 



From Rev. Mr. Slone. 

Brookfield, Nov. 13, 1851. 
Rev. Jonathan French : 

A/y Dear 5tV.-— If it were practicable for me, nothing scarcely of a 
temporary nature would afford me more sincere pleasure,^than to be pres- 
ent and participate in the joys and entertainment of the occasion so replete 
as it must be to you and your beloved people. But insurmountable 
obstacles forbid a compliance with your invitation. The distance, the 
season, my age, and my indisposition, all combine to pronounce an inter- 
dict. But however I may be absent in person, be assured, I shall be pres- 
ent in spirit to rejoice with you and your church and people, on the inter- 
esting occasion. I doubt not you Avill have many important facts to com- 
municate that will be highly gratifying to the hearers, illustrative of God's 
gracious dealings with you, your fanfiiy and people. 

Your letter has revived many reminiscences of the two pleasant years 
which in early life I passed in your father's family ; more than I am able 
at present to recite ; but which it would be very pleasant to converse over 
with you. 

AVith my bfst wishes and prayers for God's presence and blessing with 
yoB and your people, I subscribe myself 

Your affectionate friend and brother in Christ, 

MICAII STONE 



36 

From Rev. Dr. Bales. 

Dddley, Mass. Nov. 14, 1851. 
Rev. J. French : 

Dear Sir :—\ have delayed answerinnf your kind letter, in hope 
that I might find it consistent to be with you on the fiftieth anniversary of 
your ordination. But I must be deprived of the pleasure and the profit 
of witnessing the scene and participating in the exercises of the interesting 
occasion. I hope, however, to be with you in spirit, and sympathize with 
you in some of the recollections and anticipations which the occasion will 
bring with it. Indeed, your letter has already done this in part, and called 
before my mind interesting scenes and venerated persons associated with 
your consecration to the work of the ministry. I suppose the occasion was 
more interesting to me at that time, because I was then just commencing 
my theological studies with your venerated father. His discourse on the 
qualifications and responsibilities of a good minister of Jesus Christ with 
the momentous consequences of the Christian ministry, made a deep and 
lasting impression on my mind. The very words of the text : " We are a 
savor of life," &c. still sound in my ears, with the melting tones in which 
they were uttered. I remember too, the charge by that other beloved 
man Dr. Buckminster. I had then never heard a charge so impressive, 
nor have I heard any since that time which has made me feel more .sensi- 
bly the solemn responsibilities of a " dying man" called to preach the 
unsearchable riches of Christ to " dying men." Indeed the whole occasion 
•was to me, one of thrilling interest : And I have no doubt that if present, 
I should find the meeting of next Tuesday equally interesting. We should 
find many topics of interesting conversation, both in recollection of the 
past, and in anticipation of the future. For we were then putting on the 
harness for our arduous and glorious work, and could boast of nothing ; 
but now we are putting, or rather about to put it off, and although we 
cannot boast of anything done by us, meritorious in itself; yet I trust we 
may boast of the grace of God, bestowed upon us. We have both been 
prospered in the ministry, and (with some tender chastening,) blessed in 
our families. And we have both occasion to sing of mercy as well as of 
judgment ; yes, of mercy, more than judgment. 

Wishing you a pleasant season of celebration, and strength and grace 
still to labor in the vineyards of the Lord ; till your work is done, I 
remain, Your friend and fellow-laborer unto the kingdom of heaven. 

JOSHUA BATES. 



37 

NOTE A.— See Page 5. 

Among the (lescemlants of John Alden was Sarah, the wife of Ephraim 
Thayer. "This happy couple, another Zacharias and Eiizabijth, as to tlieir 
life and conversation, were blessed witli a numerous family of children, 
remarkable for their piety. They were indulged the peculiar satisfaction 
of living to see fourteen children arrive at years of maturity, enter a family 
state, and unanimously make the noble resolution of Joshua, — an for me 
and nu/ house, we will serve the Lord. On one communion occasion, they 
enjoyed the singular felicity of presenting themselves, with the fourteen 
children God had graciously given them, at the table of tlie Lord, to 
receive the emblems of redeeming love I" — Alden's Coll. 2, 7. 

The writer of the foregoing sermon traces his genealogy through the line 
of his great grand parents Ephraim and Sarah Thayer to John Alden 
before mentioned. — Thayer'' s Family Memorial. 

In regard to the disembarkation of the pilgrims at Plymouth it is stated 
in Alden's Coll. 3. 264, that John Alden "was the stripling who first leaped 
upon the rock, as mentioned by President Adams."* 

In the families descended from John Alden, of the names of Alden, 
Adams, Frencli, Thayer, &c. it has been the tradition time immemorial 
that John Alden was the first of the company who set foot on "Forefjxther's 
rock." 

A tradition is said to be equally strong in families of the names of 
Latham, Winslow, &c. descendants of Mary Chilton,| that she was the[first 
who stepped on that rock. The late Rev. Oliver Alden Taylor gave the 
following quotation from Judge Davis, who after some very pleasant re- 
marks on the several traditions says, "We e.xpectfrom the friends of John 
Alden that they should give place to the lady." Some of his descendants 
certainly are willing as an act of politeness at least, that two questions in 
the old New England Primer should be so appropriated to the landing of 
our Forefathers, and the answers so varied, as to read,-- 

Ques. — Who was the first woman '? Ans. — Mary Chilton. 
Ques. — Who was the first man ? Ans. — John Alden. 



NOTE B.— See Page 7. 

Eev. Stephen Bachelor was the first pastor of the church in Hampton. 
"He had been a minister in England for many years. In 1632 he re- 
moved to this conntry and became the first pastor of the church at Lynn. 
In 1638 he came to Hampton with the little band that settled here. Mr. 
Bachelor's descendants are very numerous in Hampton, and in several 
other towns in New Hampshire." — Dow''s Hist. Address, p 29. All the 
families of the name of Batchelder, in North Hampton, are descendents of 
Rev. Stephen Bachelor of Hampton. 

Other ministers settled in Hampton before North Hampton was set off 
as a parish, were Timothy Dalton, in 1639; John Wheelwright, 1647; 
Seaborn Cotton, 1660; John Cotton, 1696; Nathaniel Gookin, senior, 
1710; Ward Cotton, 173i. —Amer. Quar. Register. 

Rev. Timothy Dalton of Hampton, difd Dec. 28, 1661, without issue.— 
The ministerial funds in Hampton and North Hampton, originated from 

•The first President Adams, 

tOnly child of James Chilton, one of the MayflowKr's company. 



38 

his donation. Philemon, brother of Timothy, had children, and was 
the ancestor of the Dalton families in this town and the vicinity. — Farmer's 
Register. 

Families in successive generations of the name of Cotton, to the present 
time have been inhabitants of this town. The Hampton ministers of this 
name were the descendants of the eminent John Cotton, who was the 
minister of Boston in England, and who became teacher of the first church 
in Boston, New England, in 1633. 



NOTE C— See Page 7. 

For the documents to which this note refers we are indebted to the kind- 
ness of Hon. John Kelly of Exeter. 

These papers show that on the 2d of May 1719, it was ordered in 
Council that Mark Hunking, Shadrach Walton, Nicholas Oilman and John 
Oilman, Esq. should be a committee to ascertain the bounds and limits of 
a parish in the north end of Hampton ; and that on the 29th of May they 
made their report : but that the proposed parish was not then established. 

The same papers also show that between the years 1719 and 1734, there 
were various petitions concerning said parish. It seems that it was not 
established by the Oeneral Court u!itil Nov. 17, 1738 ; and that it was 
incorporated as a town by the name of North-Hampton, Nov. 26, 1742. 



NOTE D.-See Page 8. 

A few rods southwesterly from the site of the first meeting-house in 
North Hampton was a garrisoned house, on the southern border of what 
was formerly called "the Oreen." The spot where the house stood is now 
the brink of the high gravel bank by the road-side. 

A few extracts from Dow's Historical Address at Hampton will show 
the necessity for such a strong-hold here in times of Indian hostilities in 
this part of the country. Among a number of instances within the original 
bounds of Hampton, it is stated that "on the 13th of June, 1677, four 
persons were killed in that part of the town which is now North Hampton. 
These men were Edward Colcord, Jr. Abraham Perkins, Jr. Benjamin 
Hilliard, and Caleb Towle." 

Of the men of those perilous times it is said that "they earned their 
bread at the continual hazard of their lives, never daring to stir abroad 
unarmed ; they could till no lands but what were within call of the gar- 
risoned houses, into which on every considerable alarm their families were 
crowded." — Dow,p 16. 

In the garrisoned house, before mentioned, tradition relates that Simon 
Dearborn was born July 31, 1706. He was the father of Capt. John 
Dearborn, and of Maj. Gen. Henry Dearborn. There was a genealogical 
mistake in some printed notices several years ago of a few of the Dearborn 
family, it not being understood that tlierc was a generation, the head of 
which was Simon before mentioned, who was the son of Dea. John, who 
was the son of Henry, who was the son of Oodfrey, who was the patriarch 
of the Dearborn family in the United States. — Sec Genealogy Dearborn 
family., hy E, B, Dearborn., llist. kc. Reg. Jan. 1848. 



39 

NOTE E.— See Page 8. 

Tho front section of "the Old Pulpit,'" may, with very little repair, be 
made more suitable for the vestry desk, than that which we have hitherto 
used, and, to those who have any taste for afMrs of olden times, would be 
an interesting memorial of the ministers, who from the orsjanization of thig 
church, statedly or occasionally held forth the word of life from that pul- 
pit, or, united with others, gathered around it, in acts of devotion and 
fellowship. 



NOTE F.-See Pase 20. 



Simon Leavitt, mentioned pasre 20, was the son of John, who was the 
son of Moses, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Thomas, the 
first of the Leavitt family in the history of Hampton. He is said to have 
been, as early as 1C29, in Portsmouth, and to Lave resided in Exeter in 
1639, and removed thence to the west end of Ham[)ton, previous to 
1643. He deceased, Nov. 28, 1G96, being above 80 years old. 

Abraham Drake, page 20, is known in the history of the Drake family 
as Co!. Drake. He was early in life, in public employment both civil and 
military. He was son of Abraham, who was son of Abraham, who was son 
of Abraham, who was son of Robert Drake, one of the early settlers of 
Hampton. 



NOTE.— See Page 17. 



The express purpose for which the following document was prepared 
fully justifies the publication also of the letter that was at first interdicted, 
page 17. 

North Hampton, Dec. 20, 1811. 

Mr. Benjamin Hobbs having at his own expense done much toward 
making some of the parsonage buildings and land, commodious and useful, 
and having freely done it for the convenience and advantage of the minis- 
ter, and the benefit of the people, and knowing that what he has done 
has been satisfactory to himself, and believing also that it has been for his 
profit, he is desirous that some record may be made of these expenses, to 
encourage others hereafter, to do likewise according to their ability ; we 
the subscribers have therefore by his desire carefully and according to our 
best judgment estimated the expense of what he has done in building the 
wood-yard and barn-yard fences, also his expense toward building the 
hogshouse and yard, and toward enlarging and repairing the barn and 
building the west shed, together with his expense at various times toward 
clearing the parsonage pasture. After having particularly examined the 
work and computed the value of the materials and the amount of labor, the 
whole according to our best judgment amounted to at least two hundred 
and twenty three dollars and fifty-five cents. Simon Brown. 

$223 55. Abraham Leavitt 



40 

NOTE.— Sec Page 20, 

Mr. Benjamin Hobbs some of whose singularities have already been 
mentioned, had his own way to say and do everything. He was quite 
accustomed to talk in parabolic language. 

Once when inclined to make a present to his minister, he called on liim 
before sunrise, and said to him "I have received a little nwney from heav- 
en to trade upon. Fay-day has come, and 1 wish to return it. I see no 
angels by whom to send it. I hope you are going that way. I wish you 
to take it." So saying he placed twenty silver dollars in my hand, and 
bid me "good bye." 



NOTE I. -See Page 30. 

An occurrence at my ordination is illustrative of this remark. The 
weather was stormy, some of the elderly ministers invited were absent, Dr. 
Buckminister, who was occupied as scribe, was called without previous 
notice, to give the charge, which with much emotion he commenced as 
follows : 

Our Fathers where are they ? and the Prophets do they live forever 1 
I had not once imagined that so many of my Fathers had been taken from 
my head that there could have been any proprIt;ty in summoning me to 
the duty to which I am now called by this venerable council ; but relying 
upon the promised aid of the great bead of the church, and throwing 
myself upon the candor of this respectable audience, I go forth to this un- 
expected duty like the Patriarch of old, not knowing whither I go. 



41 



DEACONS OF THE CHURCH. 

The following notices of Deacons in the North Hampton church, are as 
accurate as can be obtained under the disadvantage of having only a few 
remnants of the records of the first quarter of a century from the organiza- 
tion of this church, as distinct from that in which it originated at Hampton. 

The first Deacon here was John Dearborn, for many years a 
deacon of the Hampton church, to which office he was elected on the 
same day with his cousin of the same name, John son of Henry. He is 
sometimes on the record called "John Dearborn, Sd" to distinguish him 
from his father and cousin. He lived on the original homestead of the 
family, the farm of his father and grandfather. Dea. John Dearborn 
married Hannah Dow, daughter of Daniel son of Henry senior, who went 
to Hampton previous to 1643. 

Dea. Thomas Marston, was son of Ephraim, son of Thomas, who 
went to Hampton the first summer of the settlement. Dea. Marston 
married Deborah daughter of Dea. John Dearborn. 

Dea. Samuel Bachelder was a descendant of Rev. Stephen Bachel- 
der who was the first pastor of the church in Hampton. Mr. Bachelder 
returned to England where he is said to have died aged a hundred. His 
posterity are very numerous in New-Hampshire. Dea. Bachelder died 
suddenly March 22, 1797. He resigned his office several years before, 
having become aged and infirm. 

Dea. Daniel Sanborn Is said to have lived to old age, to have sustain- 
ed an excellent character aid to have died in 1797 very suddenly. He 
was found one morning in his bed, with his hands folded on his breast, as 
if he had departed without a struggle. The records respecting that worthy 
man are ver}^ scanty. He was the grandfather of the late much esteemed 
Doctor Benaiah Sanborn of Sanbornton. 

Dea. Christopher Smith was the son of Benjamin, who was the son 
of John, who was the son of John, who was tho son of John. These fam- 
ilies were located at different times in Hampton and North Hampton. — 
Deacon Smith deceased on Dec. 9, 1814, in the 33d year of his office, 
aged 78. The most of his children settled in the interior of the state. — 
One of them, Ebenezer, settled in this town where his son Christopher 
remains to bear up the venerated name of his grandfather. 

Dea. Benjamin Hobbs deceased April 23, 1804, aged nearly 76, bav- 
in^ sustained the office of Deacon 36 years. 

Deacon Hobbs was a son of James, who was a son of Morris, who was 
son of Morris, who was son of Maurice the first of the name who settled in 
Hampton. The present owner and occupant of the ancient mansion of 
Deacon Benjamin Hobbs is his grandson of the same name. 

The other Benjamin Hobbs mentioned page 17 was a son of John, a 
descendant of Maurice Hobbs. 



42 

Dea. Nathaniel Dearborn was appointed Aug. 7, 1806. He it 
son of Samuel who was son of Jeremiah. Mr. E. B. Dearborn's Genealogy 
of the Dearborn Family contains much interesting information respecting 
the history of that family and the settlement of the town. 

Godfrey Dearborn was the patriarch of the Dearborn family in the 
United States. One of his descendants of the name of Samuel has been 
called the pioneer of North-Hampton, and is said to have built the first 
house in the town " north of the brook." The farm is now in possession 
of Dea. Nathaniel Dearborn, a lineal descendant. 

Dea. Morris Hobbs, was elected Dec. 1, 1816. He was son of 
Morris, who was son of Morris, son of Morris, son of Maurice. 

Maurice Hobbs, [since written Morris,] came from England first to 
Newbury, and thence to Hampton between 1640 and '46. He married 
Sarah, daughter of William Estow (or Eastow,) one of the first settlers of 
Hampton. 

Morris, son of Maurice, married Sarah, daughter of Capt. Benj. Swett 
and removed to ■wkat is now North-Hampton, when he was about twenty 
years old. He cut the timber for his house in the dense forest where it 
grew. The house was of one-story and consisted of one room. It had but 
one window, composed of the small diamond shaped glass, which was se- 
cured from Indian assaults by an iron shutter. The house was also lined 
with brick. This ancient house still remains, and is now the east room 
in the large mansion of the late Dea. Hobbs, being on the estate, and 
near the present dwelling of his son, John L. Hobbs. 

Dea. Francis Drake was elected deacon May 4, 1832. He was the 
son of Cornet Abraham Drake who was the son of Col. Abraham Drake, 
a descendant of Robert, who came to Exeter, New-England, before 1643, 
and removed thence to Hampton in 1651. 

Sketches of several branches of the family are given in S. G. Drake's 
Family History. 

Deacon Drake deceased June, 1843, having served in his office eleven 
years, aged nearly 58. 

Dea. Samuel Chapman was elected to office May 4, 1832. 

The Chapman family it is said emigrated from Ipswich, Mass. to this 
place. Deacon Samuel Chapman is the son of Samuel, who was the son 
of Samuel, who was the son of Job. Some of the name of this family 
came to New-England among the early settlers. There was a John, who 
arrived at Boston as early as 1634 ; and a Dea. Samuel Chapman who 
was one of the proprietors of Westfield, Mass. in 1642. 



43 

NOTE K.— See Page 20. 

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN DAVID DOGOOD AND NABAL 
LOVEMONEY, 

Concerning the Maintenance due unto the Ministers of the Gosi^el of Christ. 



" ^V^lo goi'th a Warfare at any time at liis own Charges ?" 

" The Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.' 

" Render unto all their due, to God his due.'" 



Printed in the year 17 72; ;ind Re-printed in 181 2. 



Mr. Lov'EMONEY lamenting his troubles to his neighbor, Mr. Dogood, 
snid, Sir. I iiiri greviously burthencd with Taxes; I get but little money 
and the collector will have that for my Minister's rate. 

DoGoon. Come let us discourse calmly upon this subject 1 receive my 
all from God, and esteem it a privilege to honor the I^ord with ray sub- 
stance in the way of his appointment. 

L. Let Ministers preach the gospel freely and trust God and the good 
will of their people for their support. 

D. Ministers must not tempt God ; but look for their support in a way 
which is agreeable to the direction of the sacred scriptures. 

L. I never read my Bible to learn my duty with respect to the main- 
tenance due to my Minister. 

D. It is time you knew the will of God in this respect. But remember, 
you with others did freely promise by a public vote before God and many 

witnesses, to give Mr. B eighty pounds yearly ; if he would settle in 

the work of the ministry with you : he accepted your invitation and con- 
tinues to perform the duties of a Minister of Christ, expecting you will 
make good your promise for his support. Are you not bound in the sight 
of God and by your own conscience to perform your promise according to 
your ability ? 

L. I have changed my mind and do not like to be bound by the parish 
votes ; for every man ought to be at liberty to do what he pleases for the 
support of his Minister. 

D. What wretched times have we come to, if change of sentiments will 
dissolve civil contracts. Have you found a religion to establish iniquity 
and stide conscience ? Suppose you had accepted of an invitation to 
keep a school at Arab for sixty pounds yearly, and after a few years the 
people should say to you, Sir, we are convinced in conscience, that it is 
your duty to keep school, and leave it with every person to give you what 
and when he pleaseth. What would you think of them ? 

L. I should know that covetousness was Lord of their consciences, and 
they a company of knaves and covenant breakers, not to be trusted. But 
Christ said to his disciples, " freely have yc received, freelv give." — Matt, 
10:8. 

D. Did Christ teach you to deal deceitfully with his Minister and cover 
your deceit with a plea of liberty of conscience ? No, in the U'.xt men- 
tioned, Christ is speaking of oiirf\culoi|3 gifts ; heal the sick, cleanse the 



44 

lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils ; freely ye have received, freely pive. 
Elisha would not receive money for healing Naanian ; but Christ received 
a temporal support while in the flesh from others.— Zwie 8 : 3. 

L. It would do me good to see Ministers labor with their hands for their 
support, and depend upon the Spirit to preach the gospel. 

D. It would please many and the wicked one, to have an ignorant min- 
istry ; that the ministry and the gospel might both fall into contempt with 
man. But Christ has directed his ministers to give themselves to reading, 
to meditation, to prayer and the study of the Scriptures ; that they may be 
able ministers of the new testament ; not cumbered with the cares of the 
world, nor unlearned, wresting the scriptures to their own and others' 
destruction. 

L. Paul worked with his hands that he might not burden the Church 
of Christ. 

D. Paul was a man of eminent learning, and mentions his laboring with 
his hands among his great trials and sufferings, to the shame of the Church 
of Corinth.— 1 Cor. 4 : 12. 

L. The Apostle preached the Gospel freely, and glories in keeping him- 
self from being burdensome. — 2 Cor. 11 : 7, 9. 

D. Paul and Barnabas upon a special occasion labored with their hands 
for their bread ; when they had a divine right to demand a support. — 1 
Cor. 9 : 6, 7. 

L. What special reason had they to labor with their hands ? 

D. The false teachers greatly disturbed the churches, boasting they 
were the only ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel without wages, 
and reviled the Apostles as hirelings and robbers of the churches ; there- 
fore Paul and Barnabas labored with their hands to stop the foul mouths 
of those vile slanderers.— 1 Cor. 9. — 2 Cor. 11, 12, 13. Consider how the 
Apostle speaks of this to the dishonor of the Corinthians ? Ye were not 
inferior to other churches, except it be, that I myself was not burdensome 
to you ; herein I wronged you ; forgive me this wrong ; but this I did 
being crafty, I caught you with guile and robbed other churches, taking 
wages of them to do you service. — 2 Cor. 12 : 13, 16. 

L. What doth the Apostle mean by taking wages ; did he preach for 
hire ? 

D. Paul preached the Gospel freely from love to God and man, and 
took wages for his temporal support ; for the laborer is worthy of his hire. 
—Luke 10.- 7. 

L. Doth God in the new testament require, that the hearer of the word 
support the preacher of the Gospel ? 

D. The Lord hath ordained, that they which preach the Gospel should 
live of the Gospel. Who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of 
the flock. Do ye not know, they which minister about holy things, live 
of the things of the temple ; and they which wait at the altar, are partak- 
ers with the altar ? If they have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a 
great thing, if they should reap your carnal things ? It is written in the 
law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadcth out 
the corn. Doth God take care for oxen and not for the honorable sup- 
port of his servants. 



LofC. 



45 

L. I would freely give my Minister alms as to a beggar, and not have 
it taken from me as a just debt. 

D. Would you freely promise a Minister a sum for his support, and 
after he is settled, like Ananias and Sapphira, keep back part of the price ? 
Christ hath said, the laborer is worthy of his hire. He is worthy of a just 
reward from men for his labors. — 1 2'im. 5 ; 17, 18. AVould you be guilty 
of robbing God ? If you are partakers of their spiritual things, the Lord 
has commanded you to minister unto them of your carnal things.— /?om. 
15 ; 27. 

L. It grieves me to be obliged to pay a salary. 

D. It grieves some to be obliged to be honest and just to a minister ; 
therefore they covenant more privately with their preacher for his sup- 
port ; that they may deceitfully boast, that their minister lives without a 
salary, and be at liberty, upon the least offence, to rob him of his due ; 
and the preacher also glory from place to place with a lie in his mouth, 
that he preaches the gospel without any charge to the people. 

The method of supporting ministers of Christ, as directed by the laws 
of the land, is open, just and honest, agreeable to the word of God. When 
Paul expected to be with Philemon in answer to prayer, he directed him 
to provide for his support, saying, with all prepare me a lodging. 

L. It is the laying a tax upon me for the minister, that is my burden. 

D. You are grieved because you are obliged to be just and honest to 
your minister. The Lord has directed every one to lay by him in store 
as he hath prospered him ; and common prudence would lead a people to 
choose fit men yearly to visit every man and enquire how the Lord hath 
prospered him, and lay the rates accordingly, that one may not be eased 
and another unjustly burdened ; but all pay an equality, as the Lord hath 
prospered them. Why are you grieved that disinterested men point out 
to you the measure of your duty ? 

L. I hate to see a Collector and cannot think the office is pleasint^ to 
God. ^ 

D. You judge of God by yourself : Jesus Christ honored the office and 
wrought a miracle to pay tribute unto a heathen. Yea, the God of Israel 
laid taxes upon his own people for the support of public worship, and or- 
dered persons to gather the taxes, so that the office itself is not displcasino' 
to God. 

L. What right has the civil Magistrate to oblige me to pay rates unto 
my Minister? 

D. It belongs to the Magistrate to oblige men to fulfil their civil con- 
tracts and pay their just debts : the minister's salary after contract is a just 
debt due him, as the labourer is worthy of his hire, and God required the 
Magistrate to see it paid. — Neh. 13.- 10, 11. The heathen princes pro- 
vided honorably for their priests, and shall christian magistrates see Christ's 
ministers robbed of their dues and neglect them ? Why is it a crime in 
the ministry to have their livinrr secured to them by a wholesome law, 
while other men esteem it a privilege ? 

L. The support of ministers impoverisheth the land. 

D. No set of men in public character lay up less money for their children, 
or send less out of the land. Look round upon the towns and parishes, 
which hare lived in the peaceable support of a regular minister ; do they 



,46 

not increase in wealth ? Observe the places which have lived without a 
regular minister, or that have neglected to pay their minister his due ; are 
they not running into poverty, divisions, and intemperance ? Where is 
the town in Xew-Enirland, that ever lon^ flourished in riches and in piety 
without a regular minister of Christ? Honour the Lord with thy sub- 
stance; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty. — P?-ov. 3 : 9, 2, — Citron. 
31 : 10, Mala. 3 : 3 0— 12, and remember that what you unrighteously 
■withhold from God, will be a moth to your substance. 

L. I blush, and must confess with shame, my covetousness and love of 
money has been groat; that it was like taking away my eyes to take my 
money for the support of the gospel. I thought it was a glorious liberty of 
conscience to change my religion to save my money and rob God. I 
could easily see, that religion was right which required no rates of me. I 
often spoke fair to my minister, when I watched him to find something in 
him which might excuse mo from attending his ministry, that I might be 
freed from paying him my rates. But now I am convinced that my change 
of religious sentiments doth not dissolve my civil contract with a minister 
any more than a contract with my neighbour ; neither doth my change of 
sentiments dissolve my obligations to honor God with my substance, by 
supporting the ministers of the gospel. I thank you. Sir, for these instruc- 
tions, and will honor the Lord with my money, though it be only a mite. 
Christ noticed the widow's mite. 

D. What I pay yearly for the supjiort of my minister, I give with (lie 
greatest satisfaction as to the Lord, and the Lord has prospered me — and 
this I will continue to do as long as he preaches the word of God and walks 
in character as becomes a minister of Christ. I hate to see a minister a 
beggar : for Christ and his gospel is hereby brought into contempt. It is 
more agreeable to the will of God., to give my minister an honorable sup- 
port, that he may be an example of hospitality and charity. But when he 
has visibly forfeited his character as a minister of Christ, either by errors 
in doctrine or in practice, I will take gospel steps to be freed of him and 
labor for a better, that the honor of the gospel and the peace of the church 
of Christ may be preserved ; for they are both dearer to me than silver and 
gold. I rejoice to do something yearly for the support of Christ's visible 
kingdom in the world, and with my money I will honor Christ my King. 



DEC 18 1901 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 014 870 2 



